Taxonomic and palaeobiological implications of a large, pathological sabretooth (Carnivora, Felidae, Machairodontinae) from the Lower Pliocene of South Africa

Abstract:We describe the most complete postcranialremains of a pathological, large-bodied sabretooth from theLower Pliocene site of Langebaanweg ‘E’ Quarry (SouthAfrica). The skeleton consists of hind limb and vertebral ele-ments that exhibit distinctive exostoses, osteophytes andeburnation. We performed a quantitative morphologicalcomparison of the new postcranial remains found in Lange-baanweg, with other Neogene and Quaternary sabretoothand non-sabretooth felids, consisting of the generaAmphi-machairodus,Machairodus,Lokotunjailurus,Dinofelis,Pan-thera,HomotheriumandSmilodonfrom several sites inAfrica, Europe and North America, using principal compo-nent analysis and Mosimann transformations. Although thepathological deformation of the remains distorted some ofthe linear measurements, most of the analysed variables donot contain pathological features, and strongly indicate thatthe Langebaanweg sabretooth is morphologically closer toMachairodus aphanistusandLokotunjailurus emageritusthanit is toAmphimachairodus giganteus. This indicates that theremains could belong to an undetermined sabretooth speciesfrom the Langebaanweg locality. The observed pathologies inthe foot and lumbar spine are consistent with diagnostic cri-teria for severe osteoarthritis (due to maturity), which wouldhave limited limb mobility with severe consequences forhunting success

Langebaanweg's sabertooth guild reveals an African Pliocene evolutionary hotspot for sabertooths (Carnivora; Felidae)

Here, we describe and revise craniodental material from Langebaanweg 'E' Quarry (South Africa, early Pliocene, ∼5.2 Ma), which represents one of the largest and best-preserved collections of sabertooth felids from Mio-Pliocene deposits of Africa. Four taxa, including two new species, are recognized: Lokotunjailurus chinsamyae sp. nov., Adeilosmilus aff. kabir, Yoshi obscura, and Dinofelis werdelini sp. nov. The felid guild composition analyzed herein suggests the presence of a mosaic environment with open components in the region, and shows a potential relationship with that of Yuanmou, suggesting a similar environment and/or dispersal route/event. The reassessment of the rich early Pliocene felids from Langebaanweg is a step toward understanding the transition and evolution of the felids in the southern hemisphere during the late Miocene to early Pliocene

A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Transdiagnostic Intervention for Sleep and Circadian Dysfunction (TranS-C) to Improve Serious Mental Illness Outcomes in a Community Setting

ObjectiveTo determine if the Transdiagnostic Intervention for Sleep and Circadian Dysfunction (TranS-C) improves functional impairment, psychiatric symptoms, and sleep and circadian functioning.MethodAdults diagnosed with serious mental illness (SMI) and sleep and circadian dysfunction (N = 121) were randomly allocated to TranS-C plus usual care (TranS-C + UC; n = 61; 8 individual weekly sessions) or 6 months of Usual Care followed by Delayed Treatment with TranS-C (UC-DT; n = 60). Schizophrenia (45%) and anxiety disorders (47%) were common. Blind assessments were conducted pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 6 months later (6FU). The latter two were the post-randomization points of interest. The location was Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services (ACBHCS), a Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) in California.ResultsFor the primary outcomes, relative to UC-DT, TranS-C + UC was associated with reduction in functional impairment (b = -3.18, p = 0.025, d = -0.58), general psychiatric symptoms (b = -5.88, p = 0.001, d = -0.64), sleep disturbance (b = -5.55, p < .0001, d = -0.96), and sleep-related impairment (b = -9.14, p < .0001, d = -0.81) from pre-treatment to post-treatment. These effects were maintained to 6-month follow-up (6FU; d = -0.42 to -0.82), except functional impairment (d = -0.37). For the secondary outcomes, relative to UC-DT, TranS-C + UC was associated with improvement in sleep efficiency and on the Sleep Health Composite score from pre-treatment to 6FU. TranS-C + UC was also associated with reduced total wake time and wake time variability from pre-treatment to post-treatment, as well as reduced hallucinations and delusions, bedtime variability, and actigraphy measured waking activity count variability from pre-treatment to 6FU.ConclusionsA novel transdiagnostic treatment, delivered within a CMHC setting, improves selected measures of functioning, symptoms of comorbid disorders, and sleep and circadian outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)